An excerpt of some memories of early Kariong written for Kariong Progress Association by long-time local Robert ‘Bob’ Pankhurst.
Bob’s mum, Dorothy Pankhurst, was one of the founding members of Kariong Progress Association in 1946.
How residents got around in 1942:
My mother Dorothy Pankhurst getting ready to go to Gosford in 1942. Petrol was rationed and you could be arrested for driving without good reason. Hawkins bus service ran to Gosford mainly at school times, they would pick up orders from shops in Gosford if needed. To go to town at any other time it was necessary to go by bike push bike or horse and sulky or walk. Many people did walk to Gosford from Kariong.
I was born on 29 September 1940, so I probably came to Kariong in early October 1940, it was not called Kariong then, it really had no name. Penang Mountain had been used but some of the mail was going to Malaysia. Kendall Heights was suggested but never taken up and in 1946 the names board gave it the name Kariong which is the name of the mountain a couple of miles to the southwest of the settlement. The name was said to mean ‘place of cold winds’ in the local Aboriginal language.
Back in the early 1940s there was only a few families or people living in Kariong. Coming up from Gosford on the right side of the road were Eddie Jeffs, another family of Jeffs was next door. Harry Weston, The Spencer family, we were the next house then Stan Hudson lived in a ‘humpy’ just built on the rock platform. That was all the families on the right side of the road.
On the left side of the ride coming up from Gosford was Zenas Norman Vaisey and next door was Norman Vaisey and behind them was Victor Vaisey. Next house was my Grandfather Ernest Foster and next place was George Hanson then Basil Toppel was the last house on the Pacific Highway.
Bob’s memories will be included in the commemorative booklet KPA are putting together for the 80th Anniversary. Do you have any photos or stories you would like to share?
If you would like to contribute a story, photo or piece of local history, please send it in by 1 May to [email protected].
Lisa Bellamy, President
Kariong Progress Association
